Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Sadly, in this sleepy town, the most action I’ve seen so far has been bar fights and bears accosting people’s trash cans. This call was different.
I’ve spent the last few months getting to know the locals and building a foundation of trust, so finding out someone is living here that I didn’t know was my first surprise. Finding out it was a home invasion call was my second surprise and the one that gave me the adrenaline high I’d been craving. I’ll never wish any harm to my community, but it’s hard to protect and serve when nothing ever happens.
Then, I see Lori.
She may have had the guts to swing a bat at me, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s so tiny and helpless. She’s young and sweet, but when I look into her eyes, I can see she’s been through something difficult. There’s a deeply rooted pain in her that makes me want to scoop her up and carry her off to a better place.
The fact that this perfect little girl is lying in bed right above me makes it impossible for me to sleep, so I toss off the blanket and get up to walk the perimeter.
I have to check on Deputy Bush anyway. I won’t be surprised if he’s catching a nap in his patrol car. I go out the back door and walk around the side of the house to the front. As I check the windows, I hear a branch crack behind me and pull my weapon. I spin around to find Bush standing behind me.
“Jesus, man. You can’t just walk up on me like that. You’re gonna get yourself shot one of these days.”
“I’m sorry, Sir,” he says, still holding his hands out.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I was sitting in my car, and I thought I saw something.”
“More specific. What did you see?”
“A shadow. Maybe someone creeping around over here.”
“Where? Show me.”
The deputy steps toward the hedges that border the property.
“Over here.”
I pull out my light and shine it on the ground. The morning dew has covered the long grass, making it easy to see the depressions in the uncut grass.
“Look at that. You see it?” I ask him.
“Footprints. They’re fresh, right?”
“Yes, they are. You did see someone.”
“I guess I must have scared them off.”
“Yeah, I think you did.” I shine my light into the woods but see nothing else.
“What are you thinking, Sheriff?”
“I’m thinking something isn’t right here. Why would a burglar come back to the scene of a botched robbery? You’ve been in that house. Did you see anything valuable enough to bring this guy back here?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Still, he must be after something specific to this location.”
“What do you think? Drugs maybe?”
“No. It’s hard to imagine the old lady having enough painkillers to make it worth risking a trip to jail.”
“What about the girl? She’s from the city. She could be carrying some expensive street drugs.”
Irritation surges in me. His accusation gets me heated, and I want to punch him in the face for even thinking it. I have to keep my head, though, so I try to choose my words carefully. “No, she isn’t a junkie. Anyway, how would this guy know what she was holding?”
“So, you think this is a personal thing?”
“If he isn’t after something in the house, then he has to be after someone in the house, right?”
“That makes sense. So, what do we do?”
“We keep them safe until we figure this thing out. And, Bush, this conversation is between us. I don’t want you upsetting that girl. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Sir. I won’t say a word.”
“Good. Now, go back to your car and keep your eyes open. If you see anything, hit me on the radio.”
“You got it, Sir. Hey, this is pretty exciting, right?” He grins.
“Yeah, it’s exciting, but you need to keep your wits about you. Remember your training and don’t do anything stupid.”
I return to the house and find Lori waiting for me in the kitchen.
“Why aren’t you sleeping, Lori?”
“I heard you go outside and thought you were leaving. I guess I panicked. Is everything okay out there?”
“Yep. Just checking in with my deputy.”
“Good. Thanks again for doing this for me. I didn’t know that sheriffs did things like this.”
I lean against the kitchen table where she’s seated and say, “They don’t.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I guess there’s just something about you that makes me think you’re a special case. Special cases require special handling. Now, why don’t you try to get some rest? I promise you have nothing to worry about. I’ve got this.”
I reach over and squeeze her hands, again ignoring the way my body goes haywire. She smiles and rises from her chair. Our eyes lock for a moment, and I feel a thick sexual tension fill the air. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to refrain from pulling her against me and kissing her.